Ladder leg extension



M. F. CHEEK LADDER LEG EXTENSION Sept. 18, 1951 2 Sheets-Shea File'd Oct. 18, 1947 Y Zhwentor Ml/ /ar'd. /-T C/zeeK attorneys M. F. CHEEK LADDER LEG EXTENSION Sept. 18, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 18, 1947 Jrwentor Mil/and F Chee/f attornegs Patented Sept. 18, 1951 2,567,989 LADDER LEG EXTENSION Millard F. Cheek, Liberty, Mo., assignor to V. W. Cheek, Liberty, Mo.

Application October 18, 1947, Serial No. 780,687

3 Claims. (01. 22863) 1 This invention relates to a ladder leg extension. and more particularly to an extension to be attached to the lower end of the legs or stiles of a ladder for lengthening one of said stiles when used on an uneven surface.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a ladder leg extension which is adjustable to fit any size of leg of a ladder.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a ladder leg extension adapted to be applied to the leg of a ladder without boring of holes in the leg, which holes would tend to weaken the leg; to provide a ladder leg extension which is quickly and easily applied to and removed from the leg of a ladder; to provide a-ladder leg extension which may be adjusted to the desired length of the unevenness to accommodate or adjust the ladder to the unevenness of the surface upon which the ladder is placed; to provide means on the ladder leg extension to prevent slipping of the extension on the leg of the ladder; and to provide a device of this character, simple, economical to manufacture and efficient in operation.

-In accomplishing these and other objects of the present invention, I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of the invention of ladder leg extension shown applied to the legs of a ladder.

Fig. 2 is a side view of one of the extensions showing the adjustability to fit a small leg of a ladder.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the extension showing the adjustability to fit a larger size leg of a ladder.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the ladder leg extension with the parts shown in disassembled relation.

Fig. 5 is a transverse cross sectional view showing the extension appliedto .a leg ofa ladder.,

Fig. 6 is a vertical section particularly illustrating the bosses in the channel members for engaging the leg to prevent slipping thereof.

Fig. 7 is an elevational view partly in cross section to illustrate the non-skid member attached to the :base of the extension.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

I designates a ladder leg extension embodying the features of my invention adapted to be attached to the legs or stiles 2 and 3 of a ladder 4 having the usual rounds 5. Oftentimes it is necessary to use a ladder on uneven surfaces, such as the surface of the ground or the like 6, or on as illustrated in Fig. 1.

sidewalks, where, in use of ordinary ladders, the

ladder will not stand in a straight position, against a building or the like I. In such instances.

use of an extension to one of the stiles of a ladder. is practical, and in many instances necessary.

While I have here shown a ladder le extension applied to both stiles of a ladder, only one extension may be used if desired. As the extensions are identical, only one will be described. L

8 and 9 designate side rails comprising channel members having transverse back portions l0 andside flanges II and I2. The channel members. are adapted to face each other. Bearings 13 are provided on the lower ends of the transverse or. back portions of the channel members 8 and 9., These bearings comprise short pieces of tubing, welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the ends of the channel members.

Foot or base members I4 are pivotally mounted on the lower ends of the channel members 8 and 9 as best illustrated'in Fig. 1. The base members are formed in two pieces, each consisting of pieces of strap iron or the like [5 andv l6 having their respective ends welded to bearings l1 and I8. These bearings and strap iron may be cast in one piece if desired, and the straps are curved to form a substantially oval-shaped member. One member is placed on one side of the channel members and the other member onthe other side The foot members are pivotally'mounted to thebearings of the channel members by bolts or pins 19, the pins being held in place by cotter pins or the like 28. Wash-v ers 20' are provided on the pins if desired.

One of the strap iron members is provided with a row of teeth 2| which maybe welded to the strap member or cast therein as desired. The opposite strap member is provided with a non-skid strip of material, such as rubber or the like, 22 having a tread 23, the non-skid material beingsecured to the strap member by rivets or the like 24.

Welded or otherwise suitably secured to theside flanges of the channel member 9 .are bearings or guide members 25-26 and Hf-265. The guides are spaced longitudinally from each other. The shanks 21 and 28 of fastening members having hooks 29 and 29' engage in the guide members on one side of the channel members to clamp the channel members on the legs of a ladder. I preferably place the shanks of the fastening devices on the outside of the channel members so that they may slide up or down on the stiles without interference with the rounds 5. The guide members are provided on both fastening devices are provided with threads adapted to receive thumb nuts SI and 32 as best illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 to tighten the'h'ooks on the channel members and hold them at any, The

desired position on the stiles of the ladder. transverse portions Ii] of the channel members are provided with a plurality of pun'chedout pore tions 33 having bosses 34 adapted to engage .the sides of the stiles to prevent slipping of the channel members thereon.

The respectivepieces "ofthe base -=members -'-i t are removable from thechannel members-by disengaging the-*cotter pins and reversing the position of the pieces thereof 'so'that the teeth may be used in iceor'snow to'prevent slipping or the non -skid'side of the-device used 'on pavemerit, sidewalks or'theliRe as desired;

Operation of a device constructed and assembled as "described-"is as follows Inpapplying an" extension to the-stiles of a ladder, the thumbnuts "3 f and32 maybe loosened sufii'ciently toallow disengagement of the hooks 2 9 "from' "the channel" members andone channel'- memb'er"placed"on"one side "of the stile-and the'otherch'annel member onth'e opposite side and'the extension adjusted to-thedesired height as required by the unevenness of-' the'sur-f'ace upon which the ladder is to-be-placed'. Bymoving the channel -members 8 andS longitudinally with respect to'each otheronthefdot or base members "as showrrin- Fig. 2 the channel members mayibeadjustedto 'and '=from each" other to fit stiles of different width; and"then -placing of the hook members" over the channel members andtightening' f the thumbnuts :will hold the extension rigidly 'on the stiles:

It willbe noted that the guide members shown in F'igz 4 "are "placed on-the "inside of the stiles of a ladder'sothat the shanks ofthe fastening devices-will be out of the way' to prevent catching of "I the clothing 'joftheuser -of -the ladder and the ends of the shank-portions are facing under the ladder. When" the fastening devices are placed'on'the outside it isalso-desirable to place the threaded endof the shank to the underneath side of" the ladder.

It will 'be obvious from the "foregoing that I have provided 'an improved'ladder leg extension which is adjustable to'fit differentsize stiles of ladders-"and"Whichmay be-quickly and easily applied "to "such stiles" and removed therefrom;

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is? 1. A- ladder legextensiom comprising, facing channel" members adapted to engage a ladder leg,

bearings on the lower ends of said channel members, foot members adapted to engage the respective sides of said channel members, said foot members comprising spaced straps having bearings at their respective ends, means pivotally connecting the bearings on said foot members to the respective bearings on the channel members to permitv relative movement of thelchannel members,"and means for fastening said: channel members to said ladder leg whereby said foot members are held in angular position relative to the ladder when in use.

2. A ladder leg extension comprising, facing channel members adapted to engage a ladder leg,

:bearings on the lower end of said channel members, foot members adapted to engage the respectives'sidescof saidichannel members, said foot members comprising spaced straps having bearings at their respective ends, means pivotally connecting the bearings on said foot members to therespective bearings Joni said-channel members to permit relative movement. of the. channel mam;- bersto said ladder leg; means. for fastening one of said channel members to saidtladder leg at a different elevation than the'otherichannel mem:-. ber, whereby said foot members '1 are 1 held .in angular positionirelative to :the ladder leg when in use, saidi foot "members being reversible and h'aving1teeth von on'e side and norr-skid' material on the other;

3. A ladder leg extensionatcomprising, facing channel. members adapted to engage ailadder leg, bearingspntthe lower .end of saidr'channel mem -j bers, foot members adapted to engage the re-. spective sides of saidchannel'members, said foot members comprisingspacedstraps having bear ings at their. respective ends, .meansv pivotally connecting the bearings .onisaidifoot members to the respective bearings .onsaid channel members, and means for fasteningone :of said channel members 310 said ladder leg at atdifierent elevationrthan the otherchannelv member, whereby one channel member 'may be moved longitudinally with respect to'the otherto positionone end "of 'said'foot members at a higher'elevation than the other end, said fastening'means including'hook members carried by one channel mem her and adapted to engage the other channel member to'clampisaid'members to the ladder leg.

MILLARD F; CHEEK.

REFERENCES CITED The'following references are of record 'inithe file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 429,227 Burge June 3,v 1890 1,483,148 Winkler Feb. 12, 1924 2,198,960 Deck Apr. 30, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 17,499 Great Britain 1909 18,518 Great Britain 1910 

